We happened to come across many unusual black and white headshots of stars and celebs shot by ace photographer Rohan Shreshtha. In today’s times most photographers usually prefer to shoot in colour, so we asked him why he chooses to do that. He later plans to compile them into a book.
Rohan tells us that it began a long time ago when he was shooting with Abhay Deol. “He wanted some photos wearing plain, white T-shirts for headshot images. It was for a Hollywood photo session. I did some research and found Leonardo Di Caprio and Robert Downey Jr had such pictures. It was such a simple concept but simplicity is more tough to shoot. It’s hardest to achieve and yet, the most beautiful. Here I am telling the actors, ‘Do what you want to do. Don’t be an actor. Lose all the faces that you have and just be yourself.’ My black and white pictures are beyond their clothes and makeup. It’s their persona which comes out. That’s the only brief I give them.
Some get a bit confused while some enjoy it as it’s fun for them to shoot without pretensions. They are always on their guard otherwise.”
Rohan adds that he started his B/W project three years ago. “I started by doing basic, warm up shots and simple portraits, but the people I shot with started liking the pictures. Some actors put up their pictures on social media too and soon it became like a series. Finally, a friend of mine suggested I make a series. I am going to put it all in a book. The concept grew organically. No matter who the person is, a big star, celebrity or a wannabe actor I shoot everyone, except models. The girls wear white ganjis or T-Shirts. I am so passionate about this B/W shoot that I buy extra white T-Shirts and white ganjis. I always use new ones and never re-use. I love this series because B/W is timeless and becomes a classic. After 20 years these are pictures you will still look at.”
- The picture I have shot of Anushka is her Twitter display pic and that’s an honour for me. It’s humbling for me.
- I am thankful to Sonakshi Sinha. I have worked with her the most — 35 different shoots and we got really close. I love working with her as she transforms in front of the camera. She has a beautiful Indian face.
- Priyanka Chopra can deliver all emotions instantly. She’s phenomenal to shoot. She was jetlagged but she still shot and so fast. Priyanka knows everything from her posture to her best profiles and makes the photographer’s job much more easier.
- I have captured the playful side of Abhishek Bachchan in this shot. He is the captain of my football team and we share a level of trust which is special. I have tremendous respect for him for getting me to play in an all-stars team when I am a nobody. We have raised so much for charity, but few know about it.
- For me the biggest one was footballer Zidane’s shot in Madrid. I was shooting for a brand and pitched to the brand producer that I would even cut my fees if he let me do it. My hands were shaking while shooting Zidane. I am a football fanatic and have grown up watching his play.
- Varun Dhawan listens to everything I tell him as he trusts me. I am so comfortable working with my generation of actors as I have seen them grow from their first film. From Arjun Kapoor to Ranbir Kapoor, I have an emotional connect with them. If an actor trusts you they deliver more than what you usually see.
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